Multi-Functional Apparatus For Aiding Cleaning Of Edged Surfaces And Storage

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for facilitating cleaning a working surface of a countertop or tabletop is mountable on the edge portion thereof. In an embodiment, the apparatus has a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes an elongated tray and at least one bracket for mounting the second assembly thereon. The first assembly is mounted to the edge portion using clamps. The second assembly includes an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached thereto. The tray slopes downward from its rear edge to its front edge. The gutter is located below and parallel to the front edge of the tray. The first assembly may include a compressible strip attached to the rear edge of the tray, so that the strip is pressed against the underside of the edge portion when the apparatus is mounted. In another embodiment, a frame holding a disposable bag is used instead of the gutter.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to food service appliances, and moreparticularly to an appliance for facilitating cleaning countertop andtable surfaces of liquids and solid debris.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Surfaces used in food service, such as countertops and table surfaces,are constantly subject to liquid spills and the accumulation of debris(e.g. bread crumbs, unwanted pieces of vegetables, etc.). It isfrequently necessary to clear a surface by sweeping spilled liquid,crumbs, etc. to the edge of the surface and then into a suitablereceptacle. In a home kitchen particularly, this often requires sweepinga countertop with one hand, while holding a garbage bag up to thecounter's edge with the other hand. This can be awkward and result indebris spilling off the countertop onto the floor.

The collecting trash from areas in the kitchen is known in the priorart. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,558 toHarrington discloses a trash receptacle unit having at least twointerior compartments a movable lid and a recycling receptacle unitwhich has multiple shelves or storage draws or a single storage bin or aremovable counter top recycling unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,983 to Laurenzi discloses a board and wastecontainer arrangement for a work surface for placement next to the edgeof a work surface. A board member having a bottom for placement on thework surface near the edge of the work surface has a top and a dischargeside. The discharge side of the board member is placed over and alongthe edge of the work surface when the board is in the use position. Apivot structure connects the board member to the container for pivotallymounting the container to the board member next to the discharge so thatthe container hangs over the edge of the work surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,194 to Lombardo discloses a catch container forretaining debris or other materials wiped from the edge of a worksurface. The catch container includes a receptacle structure, a mountingbracket adjustably attached to the receptacle structure, and a slopedsurface descending toward the receptacle from the mounting bracket andis mounted under a work surface so that debris displaced from the worksurface lands upon the sloped surface. The sloped surface then guidesthe debris into the receptacle without slashing or spillage.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,595 to Northington discloses a trough for attachmentto the edge of a draftsman's table to receive debris such as thatgenerated by erasures, etc. The trough is adjustable in length,supported by brackets and readily removable from the brackets so thedebris may be emptied into a waste receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,582 to Heien discloses a vertically disposed articlesupport for dishes, glasses, cups and other eating utensils whichincludes vertically spaced article support portions from which articlesto be gravity drained of rinse water and to be air dried may besupported. The lower portion of the article support defines an upwardlyopening catch basin or trough for receiving rinse water drained fromarticles supported from the support.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,310 to Gregory discloses an eraser crumb catcherhaving an elongated trough which is removably supported on a bracketsecured along an edge of a drafting table. The trough has an inboardside which extends down from the edge of the table and an outboard sidewhich curves up and out and then back to terminate above the edgeforming a cowl or deflecter to deflect the eraser crumbs brushed fromthe table to the trough.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,840 to Tringali, et al. discloses a drafting boardhaving a planar top surface with a peripheral depression. A thin,resilient, cover sheet is removably secured to the top surface by apressure-sensitive adhesive and extends into the peripheral depressionwhere it is retained by a peripheral retaining rim. The cover sheetslopes gradually downwardly into the depression without lifting orbulging along the outer limits of the panel's top surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,470 to Cannon, Jr. discloses a tray which isattached to and extends out from a foldable card table to provide ahorizontal surface for drinks, snacks, etc. The tray includes a rigidtongue interposed between the table top and the frame which supports thetray.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,724 to Rauma discloses a combination eating counterand garbage receptacle unit in which at least a portion of the countertop is removable to provide access to the garbage receptacle areathereunder.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure addresses the above-described need by providingan apparatus mountable on the edge portion of a countertop or tabletopthat facilitates cleaning of the working surface of the countertop ortabletop. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus has afirst assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes anelongated tray and at least one bracket; each bracket has at least oneopening formed therein so that the first assembly has at least twoopenings. The first assembly is mounted to the edge portion usingclamps. The second assembly includes an elongated gutter and mountingportions attached to the gutter; each mounting portion attaches to acorresponding bracket to mount the second assembly to the firstassembly. The elongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongatedfront edge. The elongated rear edge is in contact with an underside ofthe edge portion, and the elongated tray slopes downward from theelongated rear edge to the elongated front edge, while the firstassembly is mounted to the edge portion. In an embodiment, the gutter islocated below and parallel to the elongated front edge of the elongatedtray while the second assembly is mounted to the first assembly. Thefirst assembly may advantageously include an elongated compressiblestrip attached to the elongated rear edge of the elongated tray, so thatthe elongated compressible strip is pressed against the underside of theedge portion while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

According to another aspect of the disclosure the second assembly has aframe for holding a disposable bag, instead of a gutter.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features ofthe present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may betterunderstand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows.Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter thatform the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in theart should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conceptionand specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosureand that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the disclosure in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description, theappended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elementsare given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the disclosure clamped to an edge portion of a countertop,showing an adjustable clamp, an assembly including a sloping tray, and agutter assembly including a gutter mounting bracket and a gutter;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with thegutter assembly removed, at a location between clamps;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutterassembly removed, looking down from the underside of the countertop;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutterassembly removed, looking outwards from the edge of the countertop;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutterassembly removed, looking toward the edge of the countertop; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a wire frame and disposable bag instead of thegutter, in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus according to the disclosure will be described withreference to cleaning a kitchen countertop or table. The apparatusincludes a sloped tray angled downward from the countertop edge, whichdiverts liquid and debris into a gutter running parallel to thecountertop edge. Adjustable clamps are used to secure the apparatus toan edge portion of the countertop or table.

An embodiment of the disclosure is shown in cross-section in FIG. 1. Inthis embodiment, the apparatus has two adjustable clamps 20 (one shown),an assembly 1 including the sloped tray 12, and another assembly 2including gutter 14 connecting to assembly 1. Assembly 1 also includes acompressible strip 11 (hidden from view in FIG. 1, visible in FIG. 2),preferably of rubber, attached to sloped tray 12. When the apparatus isclamped to the countertop 10, strip 11 is pressed against the undersideof the countertop and prevents liquid from running off the rear edge 121of the tray. The tray slopes downward from rear edge 121 (at theunderside of the countertop) to front edge 122. Assembly 1 furtherincludes a bracket 13 having a tapered opening (a hole or slot) 16 forreceiving a mounting portion 15 of gutter assembly 2. In thisembodiment, the mounting portion is an L-shaped clip, the end of whichfits into opening 16.

Assembly 1 attaches to the countertop with a clamp 20 at either end.Each clamp has an upper jaw 24 fixed with respect to bar 26 and a lowerjaw 25 that can slide with respect to bar 26. The adjustable opening ofthe clamp permits the apparatus to be used with countertops having avariety of thicknesses. Trigger 22 locks and releases jaw 25 withrespect to the bar 26. Each jaw has a non-slip pad 21, preferably ofrubber, that presses against a countertop surface and prevents the clampfrom moving out of position.

As shown in FIG. 1, gutter 14 is mounted below the clamp jaws, below andparallel to the front edge 122 of sloped tray 12. The length of thegutter and of the sloped tray, measured along the countertop edge, istypically about 18 inches. In this embodiment, at least two separatebrackets 13 connect with corresponding clips 15 attached to the rear ofgutter 14. The gutter has the shape of a trough with a rounded bottom,and is shaped so as to not obstruct the hardware and also the movementof a drawer underneath the countertop; the distance from the top surfaceof the countertop to the bottom of the gutter is typically between about3½ inches and 10 inches.

Debris and liquid, when swept off the countertop, falls into the gutteror lands on the sloped tray and then into the gutter. The gutter iseasily detached from the brackets by lifting it vertically to clearclips 15 out of holes 16.

Both assemblies 1 and 2 in this embodiment (other than rubber strip 11and non-slip pad 21) are made of dishwasher-safe plastic. Alternatively,a rust-free metal such as aluminum and/or wood may be used infabricating either or both assemblies.

FIG. 2 shows in cross section the apparatus of FIG. 1 with gutterassembly 2 removed, at a location along the countertop between theclamps. As shown in FIG. 2, compressable strip 11 is attached to therear edge 121 of sloped tray 12 and is pressed against the underside ofcountertop 10.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of assembly 1, attached to the countertop usingthe clamps 20. Non-slip pads 21 are attached to the rear portions ofmovable clamp jaws 25. Rubber strip 11 is attached to sloped tray 12 atthe rear edge thereof.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of assembly 1 and clamps 20, looking outwardfrom countertop 10. The rear edge of rubber strip 11 is shown, with theunderside of tray 12 sloping downwards therefrom. In this view there aretwo brackets 13, each having at least one hole or slot 16 for mountingthe gutter assembly. In general, the gutter assembly mounts using atleast two clips installed in corresponding bracket openings.

FIG. 5 is another elevation view of assembly 1 and clamps 20, lookinginward toward the edge of countertop 10. This view shows the top side oftray 12 sloping downwards from the underside of the countertop.

In another embodiment, gutter 14 may be replaced by a frame 41 attachedto clips 15; the frame has a bag 42 which can be of various or multiplesizes suspended therefrom and serves to hold the bag open. Frame 41 maybe an adjustable metal wire frame. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 6.In this embodiment, bag 42 is a disposable plastic bag and is easilyremoved from frame 41.

In a further embodiment, gutter 14 may instead be used as additionalstorage space. In this embodiment, it is advantageous for gutter 14 tobe shaped as a flat-bottomed trough with sloping sides, to permit easyaccess to any items stored therein.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferredembodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended tobe exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described toprovide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art toutilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are entitled.

1. An apparatus for facilitating cleaning of a countertop or a tabletophaving an edge portion, the apparatus comprising: a first assemblyincluding an elongated tray and at least one bracket, each brackethaving at least one opening formed therein so that the first assemblyhas at least two openings; clamps for mounting the first assembly to theedge portion; a second assembly including an elongated gutter andmounting portions attached to the gutter, each mounting portionconfigured to attach to a corresponding bracket to mount the secondassembly to the first assembly, wherein the elongated tray has anelongated rear edge and an elongated front edge, and the elongated rearedge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted and is in contact with anunderside of the edge portion and the elongated tray slopes downwardfrom the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edge while the firstassembly is mounted to the edge portion.
 2. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the elongated gutter is located below and parallel tothe elongated front edge of the elongated tray while the second assemblyis mounted to the first assembly.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first assembly further includes an elongated compressiblestrip attached to the elongated rear edge of the elongated tray, so thatthe elongated compressible strip is pressed against the underside of theedge portion while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion. 4.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the clamps is anadjustable clamp having a fixed upper jaw and a movable lower jaw.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 4, wherein each jaw has a non-slip paddisposed thereon for contacting a surface of the edge portion.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongatedtray and the elongated gutter is formed from a dishwasher-safe plastic.7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of theelongated tray and the elongated gutter is formed from metal whichincludes aluminum or from wood.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the gutter is shaped so that, while the first assembly ismounted to a countertop having a drawer disposed beneath the countertopand the second assembly is mounted to the first assembly, movement andhardware of the drawer beneath the gutter is not obstructed.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 1, including two clamps at either end ofthe first assembly, and wherein the first assembly and the secondassembly each have a length along the edge portion of between 12″ and36″.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gutter has arounded bottom.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thegutter has a flat bottom.
 12. An apparatus for facilitating cleaning ofa countertop or a tabletop having an edge portion, the apparatuscomprising: a first assembly including an elongated tray and at leastone bracket, each bracket having at least one opening formed therein sothat the first assembly has at least two openings; clamps for mountingthe first assembly to the edge portion; a second assembly including aframe for holding a bag and mounting portions attached to the frame,each mounting portion configured to attach to a corresponding bracket tomount the second assembly to the first assembly, wherein the elongatedtray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge, and theelongated rear edge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted and is incontact with an underside of the edge portion and the elongated trayslopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edgewhile the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.
 13. Anapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first assembly furtherincludes an elongated compressible strip attached to the elongated rearedge of the elongated tray, so that the elongated compressible strip ispressed against the underside of the edge portion while the firstassembly is mounted to the edge portion.
 14. An apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the frame is an adjustable metal wire frame forholding different size trash bags.
 15. An apparatus according to claim12, wherein each of the clamps is an adjustable clamp having a fixedupper jaw and a movable lower jaw.
 16. An apparatus according to claim15, wherein each jaw has a non-slip pad disposed thereon for contactinga surface of the edge portion.
 17. A method for facilitating cleaning ofa countertop or a tabletop having an edge portion comprises: providing afirst assembly including an elongated tray and at least one bracket,each bracket having at least one opening formed therein so that thefirst assembly has at least two openings; providing clamps for mountingthe first assembly to the edge portion; providing a second assemblyincluding an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached to thegutter or a frame for holding a bag and mounting portions attached tothe frame, each mounting portion configured to attach to a correspondingbracket to mount the second assembly to the first assembly, wherein theelongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge,and the elongated rear edge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted andis in contact with an underside of the edge portion and the elongatedtray slopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated frontedge while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.
 18. Themethod of claim 17 further comprises during clean-up moving food on thecounter top or table top to the gutter or into the bag.
 19. The methodof claim 17 further comprises using the gutter to store at least oneitem.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least item is a spice.